I’ve Got You

It was there. Cameron and Aleshia struck up quiet conversation, needing nothing more than company and presence. Their hands met across the table, and stayed interlocked for a while, though it made drinking the beer awkward.

*****

Over at Vaneese’s house, the lasagna lay in the oven, in the last stage of cooking before everyone devoured it. Vaneese sat next to her sister at the dining table as Dijon and Cameron talked on the sofas, gesturing enthusiastically about their opinions on America’s future. Amy, small, bright eyed, and taking her position as cousin with a gravely air, tried to disengage Ezra’s grabby hands from her hair. He tugged at it, likely because Amy held the same color as the giant teddy bear back home, and the sisters eyed their children, to make sure the playing didn’t escalate into violence and bawling.

“I have one set of good news and two sets of bad news,” Vaneese said, above the noise of the humming oven. “Which would you like to hear first?”

Aleshia examined her sister, who had barely aged since she hit her late twenties. There were extra frown lines on the sides of her mouth, a wrinkle between her eyes more prominent than before, but Vaneese still retained her beauty.

“Bad news. I like it out the way so I can be lifted by the good stuff.”

“Alright, sista. Bad news is this. First, Peter knows.”

Something clamped around Aleshia’s heart, like a trap slamming shut. “Ah, sh*t,” she managed, though fear coursed a river through her. “How does he?”

Vaneese kept her expression unfathomable as she continued. “Mom told Anna about Cameron, and about Ezra. She didn’t think she was doing anything bad, of course, since Anna was one of your best friends in Plymouth. But, as you know, Anna knows Peter.”

Rubbing her temple, Aleshia closed eyes to think. She remembered Anna had always liked Peter. Another sliver of fear instilled itself. “Oh no. I think I can guess what the second piece of bad news is.”

“You probably can,” Vaneese said, sorrowful. “Peter is dating Anna. People haven’t been seeing much of her recently, so I can only imagine she’s being lured into his web.”

Aleshia felt physically sick. “That fu*ker. You know he’s doing it to get back at me.”

“Yup. I bet you he thinks if he can bait your friend, you’ll come rushing back, either with jealously or out of concern for Anna. I don’t doubt he enjoyed hearing the news of you being with a new man.”

“I suspected something.” Aleshia recalled the innocuous nature of Anna’s contacts via Facebook and text. “She’s been reaching out to me a lot more often, and I’ve been responding as kind. But she’s also been asking for personal details, which I’ve been kinda reticent on. Because I don’t want her to know anything. God, to think Peter might be putting her up to this…” Aleshia groaned, retracting fingers into fists.

“My biggest concern is that Anna is going to be seriously fu*ked up. Because Peter is a psychopath. Maybe he can change his spots, maybe he can’t. But until I see evidence to the contrary, he’s not someone you want anyone dating. I can see Amy dating Cameron when she grows up,” Vaneese said.

“What?” Aleshia glanced towards Amy, who was now playing peekaboo with Ezra. He giggled maniacally each time she uncovered her face.

“I can also see her dating someone like Dijon, or someone like our father. Good men. That’s the best way to see it. If you can picture your child grown up, you need to picture what sort of man you’d like them to be with. If Amy dated someone like Peter, I’d be afraid for her life.”

Mulling the implications, Aleshia nodded. “I guess… that makes sense. I’ve just not really thought of it that way. I don’t picture Ezra dating anyone, just when I’m next going to change his diaper or quell his next tantrum.”

Vaneese smiled. “The point is, is that I think we need to try and help Anna at some point. And I think the only way you can help her is by opening up, giving her the information, even if Peter accesses it as well – and try and make her see the truth. Before it’s too late. Because no-one wants to see someone they love in the clutches of someone who will cripple them.”

Now gnawing on the yellowed edges of her knuckles, Aleshia contemplated the idea, as her heart shriveled further. She never wanted to contact or come within poking distance of Peter again. However, someone she knew, someone she had grown up with, now cast her lot with him. Did she leave Anna alone, to make her choices?

It’s my fault. I never told her anything about what he was doing. I was always too scared. I just upped and left, and didn’t talk to anyone. I probably hurt her. And she’s kind. She probably listened to Peter’s sob story. Fu*k. “I… I don’t want to think about this right now.”

“Will you help her or not? It’s gonna be a yes or no, Ali.”

She hesitated for a moment, sifting her brain through the awful fact that she couldn’t abandon her friend. She needed to make up for leaving her without a word. “I will. I don’t want to go near him, but I will. Even if she doesn’t listen, I’d feel like a leper if I didn’t try anything. I gotta tell Mom. I’ll have to explain to Cameron.”

“He’ll listen. And Mom is closest. Might be best to ask her if she’d be willing to take in Anna, if Anna smells the danger and tries to get out.”

“Yeah.” Aleshia nodded vigorously. “Yeah, good idea. Ugh.”

“I know. It’s brave of you.” Vaneese hugged her sister, before checking the lasagna, opening the oven door so the smell of cooking, spiced meat with cheese wafted out. “I suppose you want the good news, now.”

“Please. Or I might not be able to stomach your lasagna.” Amy and Ezra both squealed. They were now tugging at a rattle. Cameron flicked a glance to check the commotion, and winked at Aleshia.

“Oh, no. Can’t have that. Alright then. The good news.” She lowered her voice. “I’ve tested pregnant. Dijon doesn’t know yet. I’m thinking of some dramatic way to spring it on him, and I want your help. We gotta drop it on Mom as well.”

Aleshia clasped a palm to her lips, suppressing an excited, unladylike giggle. “Serious?”

“Serious. Looks like Ezra will have a small playmate, and Amy’s going to be up to her eyeballs in younger relatives. You wanted to have more, too?”

“Yeah, but I’ve not dropped the bomb on Cameron, yet. His mother is desperate for me to start churning them out. She played the flesh and blood card.”

Vaneese trilled a laugh. “Oh, that’s just excellent.”

“I’m so happy for you! Ah!” Aleshia crushed her sister in a hug, until Vaneese started making pretend choking noises, and swatted Aleshia’s back.

Both adult women then decided that now was an appropriate time to start jumping up and down, grinning into each other’s faces and squealing.

“This is gonna be amazing! I think maybe you should have like, a treasure hunt that leads to the positive results of the pregnancy test! And, maybe we should have mom on video call so she can watch the whole thing!”

“Let’s list these ideas down! I better go check on the food, but we’re brainstorming tonight, Aleshia!”

Both men stared at the inexplicably hyper women, wearing identical expressions of bemusement.

Bubbling with joy, Aleshia watched her sister pull out the delicious, cheese-frothed lasagna dish. She would need to deal with the ominous shadow of Peter later, and figure out how to signal to her friend the dangers. Anna required help, but without Aleshia seeming intrusive. Aleshia wanted Cameron in on the plan, to understand these new developments.

Right now, however, she shared in her sister’s joy and wonderful news. Because even with the bad that came, something good could be found. Ezra was one. Cameron another. She just needed to look hard enough to discover it.

The end.